Dearest Rachel –
So yesterday, I met Lars to go walking through the woods, as we do every week. This, despite the fact that it was below freezing and there was the threat of snow that day – in fact, for most of the time we were out there, we were dealing with a fair number of flakes falling on us. Moreover, we were slogging our way through at least six inches of the stuff as we made our way up from the courthouse to the edge of the Edens; it made up more than half of our conversation throughout our time together, as opposed to the usual discussions of politics and other current events. We even cut our route short once we got to the tunnel underneath the interstate, rather than pressing on to Waukegan or Willow Road, because it was such slow going through the snow that had and was currently falling. Even with our doubling back that much sooner, shaving over two miles off our usual route, we were still out in it all for the better part of three hours.
With all that being said, you might wonder why we bothered to get together on such a day, especially given that today was forecast to be clear and sunny by comparison. Well, that’s the funny part about heat and clouds; the former rises, as you know, but when it bumps up against the latter, it’s retained in the local atmosphere. So, as cold as it was yesterday (and it certainly was – Lars was shocked as to how frigid my fingertips were for the first mile or two we walked, even with gloves on, although by the time we had turned around to head back to where we’d parked, I’d warmed up sufficiently that I was almost more comfortable without my gloves for an extended period of time), it’s not going to be able to hold a candle to today.
Which is a pity, as today could use the warmth that that candle could offer. We’ve had days below freezing, of course – you can’t have snow, let alone lingering accumulation, without them – but today, things are dropping below zero on the Fahrenheit scale. We’ll be lucky to get into the double digits at all, in fact. And yet, it’s the sort of situation that leaves one shrugging and muttering something along the lines of “well, that’s winter in Chicago.” This is the sort of thing to be expected at this time of year – even though it’s annoying to look up a place like Nuuk, and see that they’re running in the low 20s at this hour (which, while later in the day than we are, is still at least an hour before sunrise for them, so take that how you will).
For all that I’ve just written you on the subject, it’s not something I really want to be thinking about first thing in the morning, considering that there’s that nagging thought that I need to get myself off to the gym. It’s been over a year since I reached my low-water mark in terms of weight loss, and while I still get people asking me if I’ve been losing any, I really haven’t for the past sixteen months. What I do now is simply to keep myself from regaining too much more of what I already have.
But this means that I have to get out of the house, and make my way to the gym. And if I think too hard about how cold it is out there, I’m not going to be able to do that. I’ve made the concession to drive there these last few times – as much due to the fact that the sidewalks are mostly snow-covered and slippery as that it’s too cold to be walking in T-shirt and shorts – but the longer my mind dwells on the obvious fact that it’s obscenely cold out there, the harder it is to put that aside and just go. At some point, you don’t want to be told, and you don’t want to think about it, lest you lose heart and momentum.
At least, once you’re there, there’s nothing more to be done but to power through the usual routine. And indeed, after working up a decent sweat, it’s almost refreshing to get out there and get to the car to drive the third of a mile back home…
…almost. It’s still way too cold, but please, don’t let me know how cold it is.
Anyway, I should get on with the rest of my day, honey. For the time being, just keep an eye on me, and wish me luck, as I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 